Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
  • F16L37/08—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
  • F16L37/12—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members using hooks, pawls or other movable or insertable locking members
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
  • F16L37/08—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
  • F16L37/12—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members using hooks, pawls or other movable or insertable locking members
  • F16L37/1205—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members using hooks, pawls or other movable or insertable locking members using hooks hinged about an axis placed behind a flange and which act behind the other flange
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
  • B25B5/00—Clamps
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
  • F16L37/62—Couplings of the quick-acting type pneumatically or hydraulically actuated
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L57/00—Protection of pipes or objects of similar shape against external or internal damage or wear
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S285/00—Pipe joints or couplings
  • Y10S285/92—Remotely controlled

Definitions

• a coupler is a mechanical assembly comprising clamping modules, intended in particular for applying a preclamping force so as to provide mechanical linkage and fluid-tightness between an articulated product loading and unloading arms, in particular for fluid products, for example petroleum products (liquefied natural gas etc.), and a complementary means installed on a ship.
• the present invention relates more particularly to the case when the coupler is a hydraulic coupler with several clamping modules, in practice three or more, capable of conveying liquid products at very low temperatures (down to - 196°C).
• each clamping module comprises a clamping jaw designed for connecting the coupler to a complementary means, such as a manifold, and an actuating system proper to the said jaw and comprising a device of the screw/nut type driven by a motor.
• the jaw is carried by a system of rods articulated at one of its ends, on a support, the actuating system acting upon the system of rods in order to impel the jaw towards a clamping position or to bring it back to a resting position.
• the present invention relates, in a general way, to an arrangement that makes it possible to provide, more simply and more reliably, clamping effected by means of the said clamping modules and leading in addition to other advantages.
• a clamping assembly for a coupler comprising at least one clamping module having a clamping jaw designed for connecting the coupler to a complementary means, and an actuating system proper to the said jaw and comprising a device of the screw/nut type driven by a motor, characterized in that the actuating system is connected directly to the jaw and the said jaw is mounted on a support in such a way that it can swivel about a fixed point defined by the said support, the latter being intended to be fixed to the coupler.
• the actuating system acts directly upon the clamping jaw. Having eliminated an intermediary (the rods), it becomes possible to obtain much greater clamping forces than previously, with a system that is simpler and more reliable than the known systems. Moreover, with the clamping assembly according to the invention, the coupler can be used in more situations.
• the device of the screw/nut type is articulated on the jaw at a second point located a fixed distance from the said fixed point;
• the device of the screw/nut type comprises a screw that engages in a bush with an internal thread and is driven by the motor by means of a chain; and/or - the coupler is a hydraulic coupler and the motor is a hydraulic motor; and/or
• the actuating system is carried by the support.
• the arrangement according to the invention lends itself advantageously to a development that is original per se, according to which the assembly comprises several clamping modules whose motors have a fluid connection to a hydraulic unit comprising a fluid distribution circuit and control means designed for controlling the supply of fluid to the motors by the hydraulic unit, so as to cause the jaws associated with the motors to swivel, according to a serial arrangement of the motors so long as the jaws do not exert any clamping force on the complementary means and according to a parallel arrangement of the motors when the said jaws exert a clamping force.
• This development gives a high speed of manoeuvre (serial arrangement of the motors), as well as a large clamping force at the appropriate time (parallel arrangement of the motors).
• the controlling means are, in addition, able to control supply to the motors according to a parallel arrangement so as to overcome the clamping force applied by the jaws to the complementary means, during unclamping of the jaws;
• controlling means are sensitive to the increase in pressure in the hydraulic unit, resulting from the clamping force applied by the jaws to the complementary means, and are able to generate the transition from a serial arrangement of the motors to a parallel arrangement of them when the pressure reaches a predetermined value;
• controlling means comprise a slide valve provided with a return spring and a pressure limiter with a return spring, installed upstream of the slide valve in the fluid distribution circuit and with fluid connection to the said slide valve; and/or
• the hydraulic unit comprises a selector installed in the circuit so as to provide fluid connection between the inlet of the first of the motors in the direction of feed of the latter and the pressure limiter, the fluid distribution circuit supplying the motors according to two opposite directions depending on whether it is operating in clamping or unclamping; and/or
• the fluid distribution circuit comprises a main unit for supply of oil constituting the said fluid.
• the arrangement according to the invention also lends itself to another development that is original per se, and can be combined advantageously with the preceding one, and according to which the coupler comprises sealing means that are intended to ensure fluid-tightness of the connection of the coupler to the complementary means, means for protecting the sealing means, movable between a first position before connection, in which the said protecting means go beyond the sealing means in the direction of connection, and a second position after connection, in which the said protecting means are no longer projecting relative to the sealing means, and damping means that permanently exert a force on the protecting means impelling them towards their first position.
• the coupler comprises means that hold back the protecting means, preventing the said protecting means from going beyond the first position in the direction of connection; and/or - the sealing means comprise at least one ring seal and the protecting means comprise a movable ring that surrounds the seal or seals; and/or
• the sealing means comprise at least one ring seal and the protecting means comprise several thrusters encircling the seal or seals;
• the damping means consist of a single spring washer, helical springs, spring washers, gas spring jacks or hydraulic dampers interposed between the protecting means and the body of the coupler.
• the invention also relates to a hydraulic coupler, comprising a clamping assembly as defined above and fixed to the body of the said coupler.
• FIG. 1 is a side view with partial section of a hydraulic coupler equipped with a clamping assembly according to the invention and a complementary means, in the non-connected position;
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 , and shows the connected position of the hydraulic coupler and of the complementary means;
• FIG. 3 on a larger scale, is a top view with partial section of the clamping module in Figure 2;
• FIG. 4 is a view in longitudinal section of the top half of the front part of the coupler in Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrates the protecting means of the sealing means of the said coupler; and - Figs. 5 to 10 are schematic diagrams of the hydraulic unit supplying the motors of the clamping modules according to the invention, and illustrate the various stages in operation of this unit.
• the hydraulic coupler 10 comprises a clamping module 11 having a clamping jaw 12 designed for connecting the coupler 10 to a complementary means 13, and an actuating system 14 proper to the said jaw and comprising a device of the screw/nut type
• the clamping modules are three in number, fixed to the periphery of hydraulic coupler 10 and distributed uniformly around the latter and constituting a clamping assembly by which coupler 10 can be connected to the complementary means 13.
• the said complementary means 13 is, here, a manifold, which can be replaced with a closing cover when the loading arm equipped with coupler 10 is to be put in the storage position.
• the actuating system 14 is well-known, it will not be described in detail here.
• the device of the screw/nut type 15 comprises a screw 17 that engages in a bush with an internal thread 18 and is driven by the motor 16 by means of a chain 19 transmitting the rotary motion of motor 16 to screw 17 by means of a driving sprocket 20 rigidly locked with the output shaft of motor 16 and a driven sprocket 21 integral with a piece of shaft 22 that is an extension of screw 17.
• the latter is housed in a cylindrical casing 23, to which a housing 24 is fixed, for housing the chain 19 and sprockets 20 and 21, the motor 16 being fixed to the said housing 24.
• the bush with internal thread 18 is slidably guided in the cylindrical casing 23.
• each jaw 12 has a swivel mounting on a support 25 about a fixed point 26 defined by the said support 25, the latter being fixed to the hydraulic coupler 10, in the present case by welding.
• the device of the screw/nut type 15 is also articulated on jaw 12 at a second point 27 located a fixed distance from point 26, by means of a cylindrical component 28 fixed to one end of the bush with internal thread 18, intended to receive a spindle (not shown in Figure 3).
• the actuating system 14 in its turn has a swivel mounting on support 25, by means of spindle-receiving disks 29 fixed on the cylindrical casing 23.
• support 25 is formed by two plates 30 that are symmetrical relative to a longitudinal median plane intersecting at right angles the swivelling axes of clamping module 11 , which receive between them the actuating system 14 as well as the jaw 12 which is, in its turn, formed by two plates 31 that are symmetrical relative to the said plane.
• each plate 30 of support 25 comprises a vertical section
• Each horizontal section 34 is reinforced, in the region of the fixed point 26, by an outer plate 34 welded onto the adjacent plate 30.
• Each plate 31 of jaw 12 comprises, according to a general configuration as right-angled triangle, two holes through which spindles pass, one for the spindle housed in cylindrical component 28 and defining the swivel point 27 and the other for the journal 35 defining the fixed swivel point 26. Holes aligned with the aforementioned holes are of course also provided in the support plates 25.
• a clamp 36 carrying a sliding block 37 is fixed to jaw 12. It, too, is formed from two plates 38 that are symmetrical relative to the aforesaid plane, each being fixed to one of the plates 31 forming jaw 12. It should be pointed out, in this connection, that these plates 38 extend along the side of the substantially triangular plates 31 closest to the hydraulic coupler 10 and they also have a hole through which journal 35 passes.
• the sliding block makes it possible to connect the hydraulic coupler 10 to several different diameters of flanges 39 of manifold 13. In practice, and such is the case in the embodiment shown here, these diameters are generally three in number.
• the jaw 12 is pivotably mounted on the support 25 about a low fixed point 26 (proximal point with respect to the coupler 10) defined by the support 25, the device of screw/nut type 15 is articulated directly on the jaw 12 at a high point 27 (distal point with respect to the coupler 10) defined by the jaw 12 and situated at a fixed distance from the low fixed point 26 and the actuating system 14 is itself articulated on the support 25 in the vicinity of the high point 27.
• clamp 36 of the jaw 12 forms a projection roughly with respect to a third point defined by the jaw 12 and forming a triangle with the low and high points. Furthermore, the extension of each jaw 12 and of the device 15 of screw/nut type which is associated with it is in the same general direction as that of the body, here cylindrical, of the coupler 10.
• hydraulic coupler 10 is equipped with a system that protects its seals, as can best be seen in Figure 4.
• the said hydraulic coupler 10 comprises a protecting ring 40 that is movable relative to its annular front face 41 and positioned around its ring seals 42 and 43 housed in grooves.
• Compression springs are placed between this ring 40 and the body 45 of coupler 10 and act in the axial direction, permanently holding the ring 40 and the body 45 of coupler 10 apart.
• the ring has a groove 46 forming a seat for one of the ends of these springs 44, whereas the body 45 of coupler 10 has an opposite face 47 that is recessed relative to the front face 41 and forms a seat for the opposite end of the said springs 44.
• the supporting force of seals 42 and 43 is equal to the clamping force of jaws 12 minus the force of compression of springs 44.
• the clamping force of jaws 12 must be chosen in such a way that it is much greater than the force of compression of springs 44.
• damping springs can be used:
• ring 40 can be replaced with thrusters positioned around seals 42 and 43 and connected to the damping means defined above.
• Other solutions for abutment can also be used, such as pins fixed to the body 45 and equipped with a head retaining ring 40.
• a hydraulic unit with a fluid distribution circuit is also provided, as is best seen in
• the said hydraulic unit 50 comprises, according to the invention, a slide valve 51 provided with a return spring and a pressure limiter 52 with a return
• valve 51 installed upstream of valve 51 in the distribution circuit and with fluid connection to the said valve 51.
• the hydraulic unit 50 also has a selector 54 arranged in the fluid distribution circuit to provide fluid connection between the inlet of the first of the motors 16 ⁇ -16 3 , in their direction of supply, and pressure limiter 52. Depending on whether the unit is acting for clamping or unclamping of jaws 12, the first motor is motor 16- 1 or 16 3 .
• the said hydraulic unit 50 is in addition supplied with oil by a central unit 55 comprising a distributor 56 and two non-return valves with controllable throttling 57, connected respectively to a closing line and an opening line connecting the central unit 55 to hydraulic unit 50.
• the fluid distribution circuit of hydraulic unit 50 is designed for supplying all the motors 16 ⁇ -16 3 with the oil flow and pressure that they require, and at any time.
• the hydraulic unit 50 operates according to the series/parallel principle.
• the clamping modules 11 with jaws 12 ⁇ -12 3 manoeuvre rapidly.
• the hydraulic unit operates in series (low pressure and high flow rate).
• the unit operates in parallel (high pressure and low flow rate).
• coupler 10 is clamped on a flange 39, for unclamping it the hydraulic unit 50 has to supply a lot of pressure to each of the motors 16r16 3 : therefore it operates in parallel.
• hydraulic unit 50 changes to series operation to give quick opening.
• Series/parallel changeover of hydraulic unit 50 occurs in relation to the forces transmitted and to be transmitted to the clamping modules 11. It is the slide valve inside hydraulic unit 50 that permits changeover either to series operation or to parallel operation. The position of this slide valve depends on the forces transmitted by the clamping modules 11. When there is no force acting on the clamping modules 11 , hydraulic unit 50 puts itself in the series position. As soon as a clamping module 11 forces or presses against something (flange, stop etc.), the supply pressure of the series circuit increases and moves the slide 10
• hydraulic unit 50 The operation of hydraulic unit 50 will now be described in greater detail, referring to Figs. 5 to 10.
• FIG. 5 (coupler 10 in the open position) No movement is "demanded” from coupler 10. There is no circulation of oil in the hydraulic circuit. In this state (rest), the hydraulic unit is systematically in the series position. The slide valve of unit 50 is pushed towards the left by its return spring.
• Figure 10 (opening of coupler 10)
• the pressure value causing the slide to move from a position in series to a position in parallel is about 80- 90.10 5 Pa.
• the actuating system 14 may also be borne by a support different to that on which is mounted the jaw 12 associated with it.
• the support or supports may, moreover, also be formed integrally with the coupler.
• the present invention is not limited to the embodiment that has been described and illustrated, but encompasses all variants of execution.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Jigs For Machine Tools (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
• Flanged Joints, Insulating Joints, And Other Joints (AREA)
• Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
• Mutual Connection Of Rods And Tubes (AREA)
• Transmission Devices (AREA)
• Fluid-Pressure Circuits (AREA)

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Citations (4)

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• 2002
  • 2002-01-31 FR FR0201157A patent/FR2834043B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-12-19 EP EP02795290A patent/EP1456575B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-12-19 DE DE60229433T patent/DE60229433D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
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  • 2002-12-19 KR KR1020047008875A patent/KR100660772B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-12-19 US US10/499,463 patent/US7699359B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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  • 2002-12-19 AU AU2002360100A patent/AU2002360100B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2002-12-19 JP JP2003555111A patent/JP2005512910A/ja active Pending
  • 2002-12-19 EP EP06077022A patent/EP1754925B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-12-19 WO PCT/EP2002/014869 patent/WO2003054435A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2002-12-19 CN CNB028253795A patent/CN1276205C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-11-09 JP JP2006303493A patent/JP4500796B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-11-16 US US11/600,623 patent/US8511720B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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